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Rubber Match Goes to Assumption

After splitting a pair of regular season meetings with Newman Catholic, the Assumption girls basketball team made sure that they would capture the season series and a spot in the Division 5 state title game.

The Royals raced out to a 20-7 lead at the end of the first quarter and never looked back en route to a 60-37 victory in the first girls state tournament game played at the Resch Center in Green Bay.

The halftime lead swelled to 35-16 as freshman forward Gena Grundhoffer and junior guard Mary Sigler scored 10 points apiece before intermission. Newman Catholic shot just 31.6% from the field in the first half, and things got worse after the break.

The Cardinals struggled to a 24.1% shooting percentage in the second half and finished just 27.1% for the game. It was a frustrating reminder of last season's state semi-final match-up with Owen-Withee when the Cardinals shot 28% from the field.

Both teams used a full court press to try to put pressure on the opposition, and the quick pace did result in quite a few miscues for each squad. Both teams finished with 20 turnovers in the game, but Assumption did a better job capitalizing on mistakes, getting 25 points off turnovers to Newman Catholic's 17.

Assumption's size advantage inside also came through on the stats as they outscored Newman in the paint, 32-16.

The Royals were led by Mary Sigler, who scored 17 points to go with 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Gena Grundhoffer added 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

No Newman Catholic players reached double-figures, as Kimberly Steif's 8 was the team high.

Assumption will be looking for its first WIAA state girls basketball championship when it faces Barneveld on Saturday at 11:05 am.

Barneveld's Perimeter Game Takes Down Twin Towers of South Shore

It was a contrast of styles in the second Division 5 state semi-final, and the speed, tenacity, and outside shooting of Barneveld took out the inside presence of 6-foot sisters Megan and Emily Gustafson of South Shore.

The Golden Eagles got a lead in the 1st quarter and would not relinquish it as they pulled away for a 54-45 win.

Barneveld was able to find holes on the perimeter against the South Shore 2-3 defense and knocked down five first half three-pointers. A 15-10 lead at the end of the first quarter ballooned to a 29-19 advantage at halftime.

Barneveld's pressing and harassing defense caused problems for South Shore, who turned the ball over 12 times before halftime. When they did get the ball in position, the Cardinals were able to convert however, shooting 9 of 18 before the break.

The margin narrowed in the third quarter as South Shore's Megan Gustafson, the state's leading scorer this season averaging 31.7 points per game coming in, found room to operate inside. She was the team's main offense much of the day, finishing with 26 of the Cardinals' 45 points. Older sister Emily Gustafson added 8 points and 17 rebounds. Junior guard Janice Anderson struggled shooting the ball, finishing just 2 of 14 from the field for 9 points.

Barneveld took care of business down the stretch, turning away several South Shore surges to take the 54-45 victory.

Sophomore Rachel Slaney led the team with 15 points to go with 12 rebounds. Freshman Hannah Whitish scored 11 while senior Madison Laube added 10.

Barneveld will go for the 5th state title in school history on Saturday when they face Assumption in a rematch of a game won back in January.

Note:  Attendance for the Thursday afternoon D5 session was 3,617.